Electronic device including actuator for providing tactile output

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a base, a membrane coupled to and spaced from the base, an actuator disposed between the base and the membrane, and spaced from the membrane when the actuator is not actuated, and a controller configured to control actuation of the actuator to cause the actuator to contact the membrane.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present disclosure relates to an electronic device including anactuator for providing tactile output.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, including portable electronic devices, have gainedwidespread use and may provide a variety of functions including, forexample, telephonic, electronic text messaging and other personalinformation manager (PIM) application functions. Portable electronicdevices can include several types of devices including mobile stationssuch as simple cellular phones, smart phones, Personal DigitalAssistants (PDAs) in various forms, and peripheral devices forcommunicating with PDAs.

Devices such as PDAs or smart phones are generally intended for handhelduse and ease of portability. Smaller devices are generally desirable forportability. PDA watches or watches that may communicate with PDAs orother electronic devices are desirable for their small overall size andconvenience.

Improvements in such electronic devices are desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of components including internalcomponents of a portable electronic device according to an exampleembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an example of a portable electronic device;

FIG. 3 is a back view of an example of a portable electronic device;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an example actuator assembly of theportable electronic device in accordance with an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 is another exploded view of the example actuator assembly of theportable electronic device;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view at an edge of the actuator assembly,when the actuator is not actuated;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view at a center of the actuator assembly,when the actuator is not actuated;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view at an edge of the actuator assembly,when the actuator is actuated;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view at center of the actuator assembly,when the actuator is actuated; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method ofcontrolling a portable electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an electronic device that includes a base, amembrane coupled to and spaced from the base, an actuator disposedbetween the base and the membrane, and spaced from the membrane when theactuator is not actuated, and a controller configured to controlactuation of the actuator to cause the actuator to contact the membrane.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated amongthe figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the example embodiments described herein.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the example embodiments described herein may be practiced withoutthese specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not toobscure the example embodiments described herein. Also, the descriptionis not to be considered as limited to the scope of the exampleembodiments described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of components including internalcomponents of a portable electronic device according to an exampleembodiment. The portable electronic device 100, which may be in the formof, for example, a watch, includes multiple components such as aprocessor 102 that controls the operations of the portable electronicdevice 100. Communication functions, including data and voicecommunications, are performed through a communication subsystem 104.Data received by the portable electronic device 100 is decompressed anddecrypted by a decoder 106. The communication subsystem 104 receivesmessages from and sends messages to a wireless network 150. The wirelessnetwork 150 may be any type of wireless network, including, but notlimited to, data-centric wireless networks, voice-centric wirelessnetworks, and dual-mode networks that support both voice and datacommunications over the same physical base stations. The portableelectronic device 100 is a battery-powered device and includes a powersource 142 such as a rechargeable battery or batteries.

The processor 102 also interacts with additional subsystems such as aRandom Access Memory (RAM) 108, memory 110, buttons 112, sensors 114, adisplay 116, an actuator 120, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem124, a data port 126, a speaker 128, a microphone 130, short-rangecommunications 132 and other device subsystems 134. User-interactionwith the graphical user interface of the portable electronic device 100is performed through the buttons 112 and the sensors 114. The processor102 may interact with the actuator 120 through a controller 122. Theprocessor 102 may interact with the sensors 114 via an electroniccontroller. Information, such as text, characters, symbols, images,icons, and other items that may be displayed or rendered on a portableelectronic device, is displayed on the display 116 via the processor102.

To identify a subscriber for network access according to the presentembodiment, the portable electronic device 100 may use a SubscriberIdentity Module or a Removable User Identity Module (SIM/RUIM) card forcommunication with a network such as the wireless network 150.Alternatively, user identification information may be programmed intomemory 110.

The portable electronic device 100 includes an operating system 146 andsoftware programs or components 148 that are executed by the processor102 and are typically stored in a persistent, updatable store such asmemory 110. Additional applications or programs may be loaded onto theportable electronic device 100 through the wireless network 150, theauxiliary I/O subsystem 124, the data port 126, the short-rangecommunications subsystem 132, or any other suitable subsystem 134.

In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, orweb page download is processed by the communication subsystem 104 andinput to the processor 102. The processor 102 then processes thereceived signal for output to the display 112 or alternatively to theauxiliary I/O subsystem 124. A subscriber may also compose data items,such as e-mail messages, for example, which may be transmitted over thewireless network 150 through the communication subsystem 104. For voicecommunications, the overall operation of the portable electronic device100 is similar. The speaker 128 outputs audible information convertedfrom electrical signals, and the microphone 130 converts audibleinformation into electrical signals for processing.

The sensors 114 may be any suitable sensors such as capacitive sensorsincluding a capacitive sensor layer or layers of suitable material suchas indium tin oxide (ITO). The sensors 114 may be located on a peripheryof the face of the portable electronic device 100, as illustrated in thefront view of the portable electronic device shown in FIG. 2. One ormore touches, on the touch sensors, also known as touch contacts ortouch events, may be detected. A location of the touch may be determinedbased on the sensor at which the touch is detected. A signal is providedto the controller 116 in response to detection of a touch. A touch maybe detected from any suitable object, such as a finger or thumb. Theelectronic controller, through which the sensors interact with theprocessor 102, and/or the processor 102 may detect a touch and multiplesimultaneous touches may be detected.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a front view and back view of theportable electronic device 100, which in the present embodiment is inthe shape of a watch and is normally worn at or near the wrist of auser, are shown. The portable electronic device 100 includes a housing202 that houses the internal components shown and described above withreference to FIG. 1. The housing 202 includes a front frame 204 and aback 206, joined by sidewalls that extend between the front frame 204and the back 206. The housing 202 may be made of any suitable materialsuch as, for example, a high density plastic. The front frame 204 framesthe display 116 and the sensors 114 (shown in FIG. 1) are distributedaround the front frame 204.

In the example shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, four buttons 112 extend fromtwo opposing sidewalls, although any suitable number of buttons may beutilized. Alternatively, the portable electronic device 100 may bewithout such buttons.

The back 206 of the portable electronic device 100 includes an openingthrough which a cover 302 of an actuator assembly 300 is exposed. In thepresent example, the opening is circular and the actuator assembly 300is disposed in the opening such that an outer surface of a cover of theactuator assembly 300, is generally flush with the remainder of the back206 of the portable electronic device 100. Alternatively, the cover mayextend across the entire back of the portable electronic device 100rather than at an opening in the back.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show exploded perspective views of the actuatorassembly 300, including the cover 302, the actuator 120, and a base 402.As described, the cover 302 is exposed at the back 206 of the housing202 (shown in FIG. 3) of the portable electronic device 100. The cover302 is supported by and coupled to the base 402. The actuator 120 isdisposed between the base 402 and the cover 302.

The cover 302 is generally planar on the outer surface 404, which isexposed at the back 206 of the housing 202 (shown in FIG. 3).Alternatively, the cover 302 is shaped, for example, to fit or curvearound a wrist. The inner surface 406 is shaped to provide support andflexibility. The inner surface 406 of the cover 302 includes aperipheral rim 408 that is thick to provide support for a flexiblemembrane 410 which is centered within and coaxial with the rim 408. Therim 408 includes a groove 412 that extends around the rim 408 to matewith a cylindrical projection from the base 402. A plurality of spacedapart raised lips 414 on the inner surface 406, extend around the marginof the membrane 410. A cylindrical protrusion 416 extends from a centerof the membrane 410 on the inner surface 406. The membrane 410 is thincompared to the rim 408, the raised lips 414 and the cylindricalprotrusion 416, to facilitate elastic deformation of the membrane 410,for example, when a force is imparted to the cylindrical protrusion 416.The cover 302 is greater in thickness at the cylindrical protrusion 416than at the remainder of the membrane 410 to provide a reinforced areaat which the actuator strikes the cover 302.

The base 402 is generally planar on an outer surface 420, on an oppositeside of the base 402 as the cover 302. The inner surface 422 includes aperipheral rim 424 that includes a tongue 426 that protrudes from andextends around an interior edge of the peripheral rim 424 . The tongue426 is sized and shaped to mate with the groove 412 of the cover 302. Aplurality of spaced apart teeth 428 extend around the margin of a tray430 which is centered within a coaxial with the rim 424. The teeth 428are sized, shaped, and located to cooperate with the raised lips 414 ofthe cover 302 and spaced therefrom, to clamp the actuator 120therebetween. The base 402 is sized to support the actuator 120 and thecover 302, and is supported within the housing 202 of the portableelectronic device 100. Alternatively, the base 402 may be incorporatedinto the housing.

The actuator 120 includes a piezoelectric disk 440 such as a PZT ceramicdisk adhered to a metal substrate 442 of larger diameter than thepiezoelectric disk 440 for bending when the piezoelectric disk 440contracts diametrically as a result of build up of charge across thepiezoelectric disk 440. The actuator 120 is electrically connected to apiezo driver that communicates with the controller 122. The controller122 may be a microcontroller that communicates with the processor 102.Alternatively, the processor 102 may control the actuator 120. Thecontroller 122 controls the piezo driver that controls thecurrent/voltage to the piezoelectric disk 440 of the actuator 120. Whenthe charge is reduced by a discharge current/voltage, the actuator 120returns to the state in which the actuator is not actuated, i.e., theactuator 120 is not bent.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, which show partial sectionalviews at an edge of the actuator assembly 300 and a center of theactuator assembly 300, respectively. The membrane 410 is spaced from thebase 402. The metal substrate 442 of the actuator 120 is disposedbetween the teeth 428 of the base 402 and the raised lips 414 of thecover 302 such that the actuator is spaced from the membrane 410 whenthe actuator 120 is not actuated, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Referringnow to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, which show partial sectional views of one sideof the actuator assembly 300 and a center of the actuator assembly 300,respectively, when the actuator 120 is actuated. The current/voltage tothe actuator 120 is controlled by the controller to increase the chargeacross the piezoelectric disk 440 of the actuator 120 and therebyactuate the actuator 120 over a very short period of time. The actuator120 bends when the charge across the piezoelectric disk increases andthe actuator 120 strikes the cylindrical protrusion 416 in the center ofthe membrane 410.

A flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the portable electronicdevice 100 is shown in FIG. 10. The method may be carried out bysoftware executed, for example, by the processor 102 in communicationwith the controller of the actuator 120. Coding of software for carryingout such a method is within the scope of a person of ordinary skill inthe art given the present description. The method may contain additionalor fewer processes than shown and/or described. An event is detected at1002 and the actuator is actuated at 1004 to provide, for example, anotification of the event for the user. The event may be, for example,receipt of an email, text message, an instant message, or any othersuitable message. The event may also be a calendar event reminder, andalarm, or any other suitable reminder at the portable electronic device100. The event may also be receipt of a query by user-interaction withthe portable electronic device 100, for example, to request anindication of the number of unopened emails. In response, the controllerdetermines the number and responds by communicating with the controllerto actuate the actuator the same number of times.

When the portable electronic device 100 is worn on or near the wrist ofthe user, actuation of the actuator 120 provides tactile output in theform of, for example, a pulsation or beat, as the membrane 410 isdeflected when the actuator 120 strikes the membrane 410.

In the above-described example, the portable electronic device 100 is aPDA and includes features and functions of a PDA. In another exampleembodiment, the portable electronic device may function without adisplay. For example, the device may not have any display or,alternatively, may include an analog watch face and components of ananalog watch. In another example embodiment, the electronic device mayfunction without the sensors.

In alternative examples, the portable electronic device may include moreor fewer functions and features.

Alternatively, the portable electronic device may include short-rangecommunication capabilities only, for communicating with a handheldelectronic communication device. In this example, the portableelectronic device communicates with the handheld electroniccommunication device and provides a peripheral display for displayinginformation from the handheld electronic communication device. In thisexample, detection of an event may include receipt of data from thehandheld electronic communication device such as a total number ofunopened emails.

Advantageously, tactile output is provided from a portable electronicdevice in contact with the skin of a user to provide information to theuser without requiring viewing of a display. Such information may beuseful, for example, when a user is in a meeting, driving a vehicle, orin any other instance in which viewing of a display is difficult,dangerous, or disruptive. The provision and control of tactile output intouch-sensitive devices is desirable.

An electronic device includes a base, a membrane coupled to and spacedfrom the base, an actuator disposed between the base and the membrane,and spaced from the membrane when the actuator is not actuated, and acontroller configured to control actuation of the actuator to cause theactuator to contact the membrane.

A method of controlling an electronic device includes detecting anevent, and actuating an actuator disposed between a base and a membrane,to cause the actuator to strike the membrane to provide tactile outputin response to detecting the event.

While the embodiments described herein are directed to particularimplementations of the actuating assembly and the portable electronicdevice and the, it will be understood that modifications and variationsmay occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications andvariations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of the presentdisclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a base; anelastically deformable membrane coupled to and spaced from the base; anactuator disposed between the base and the membrane, and spaced from themembrane when the actuator is not actuated; a controller configured toactuate the actuator to cause the actuator to contact the membrane bymoving the actuator from a first state in which the actuator is out ofcontact with the membrane, to a second state in which the actuator is incontact with the membrane, such that the actuator strikes the membranewhen actuated, a processor coupled to the controller; and acommunication device connected to the processor to communicate with afurther electronic device comprising a handheld electronic communicationdevice; wherein the electronic device is configured to be worn on awrist with the membrane disposed against the skin of user such that themembrane is in contact with the user to provide tactile feedback whenthe actuator is actuated in response to detecting an event comprisingreceipt of a notifier at the electronic device, and wherein the notifiercomprises a notification of receipt of an email or a calendar reminder.2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the actuatorcomprises a piezoelectric actuator.
 3. The electronic device accordingto claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is actuated by thecontroller.
 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein theelectronic device is a watch.
 5. The electronic device according toclaim 1, comprising a display on a front of the electronic device. 6.The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the membranecomprises a protrusion extending from a center of the membrane, andwherein the actuator is arranged to contact the protrusion of themembrane when actuated by the controller.
 7. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the membrane isgenerally flush with the back of the electronic device.
 8. A method ofcontrolling an electronic device, comprising: communicating with afurther electronic device comprising a handheld electronic communicationdevice via a communication device coupled to a processor of theelectronic device; detecting an event comprising receipt of a notifierat the electronic device; actuating an actuator disposed between a baseand an elastically deformable membrane, to cause the actuator to movefrom a first state in which the actuator is out of contact with themembrane, to a second state in which the actuator is in contact with themembrane, to thereby strike the membrane to provide tactile output inresponse to detecting the event, wherein the electronic device isconfigured to be worn on a wrist with the membrane disposed against theskin of user such that the membrane is in contact with the user toprovide tactile feedback when the actuator is actuated, and wherein thenotifier comprises a notification of receipt of an email or a calendarreminder.
 9. The method according to claim 8, comprising receiving aquery at the electronic device.
 10. The method according to claim 8,wherein detecting the event comprises receiving data from a handheldelectronic communication device.
 11. The method according to claim 8,wherein the membrane comprises a protrusion extending from a center ofthe membrane, and wherein actuating the actuator causes the actuator tostrike the protrusion of the membrane.